First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte
P.O. Box 170, Eagle Butte, SD 57625
(605) 891-1704 (Pastor’s Cell)/ www.fbceaglebutte.com (Website)
May 24, 2018
Dear Friends,
Here in Eagle Butte, Spring lasts about three weeks. We can get blizzards as late as May, and the really hot temperatures start at about…late May. But when it is here, Spring truly is a beautiful time.
I love this city. Twice this year, I’ve been driving to the grocery store and seen someone riding a horse down the sidewalk on main street. Last month, I ate lunch at the Dairy Queen and discovered that I was sitting next to two real, modern day cowboys. And earlier this year, my wife’s school had one of its entrances blocked by a giant mass of tumbleweeds!
I haven’t sent a newsletter in about five months, and for that I apologize. Recent events caused the church to slow down for a time, and there was not much news. But now, there is plenty, and I’m anxious to share it all with you!
One Heart Stops; Many Others Break
This March, I learned that my mother was dying of cancer. After conferring with the elders of my church, they all agreed to let me travel to my home town in North Carolina to be with her. I am blessed to be a part of a church that is so generous. They didn’t even tell me when I had to be back.
Once I arrived, my brother and I took it in turns to watch over her, day and night. I came to see it as a kind of privilege. Mom had always been a very giving person, and she had always been there for me whenever I needed her. So I was happy to get the opportunity to be there for her in these last days.
What struck me the most was my mother’s attitude. It could best be described as annoyance. Mom had never been the sort who let things bother her. And now that she was facing a painful death, the worst that she felt was annoyed! There was no fear in her. And no regret. None. She was happy about her life, and looking forward to Heaven. Sickness and death were nothing but an annoying, and temporary, inconvenience in her eyes. Such is the hope and confidence granted by the power of our Lord Jesus.
I returned home with an awkward mixture of grief and happiness. Grief for the loss of my mother; happiness for the life she now enjoys. And I am grateful to my church family, for letting me be there.
Miracle Babies
About nine months ago, Adam and Rachel Cowan (two missionaries who are part of our church) heard some happy news: Rachel had become pregnant. Their happiness was compounded when they learned that she was carrying identical twins: their second pair! It was extremely exciting for everyone, until the fateful doctors’ appointment.
The doctors informed the Cowans that the twins had a rare condition, causing neither of them to get adequate nourishment. They were dying, and would soon be dead. The only thing that could save their lives was a rarely-performed surgery. And the closest hospital that did this type of surgery was 500 miles away, in Denver. And even if the surgery were done, the survival of both twins was not certain, or even likely. And even if they survived, there was likely to be severe damage to one of them, or both.
Adam and Rachel immediately went to Denver, and I went to the internet. I went there to contact all of you. I asked you to join me in prayer for the Cowan twins, in the knowledge that God has full control over their life and health. I asked for prayer, and how you all answered my call! Immediately, I started receiving dozens of confirmations from all over America, saying that you were praying for the Cowans. We begged God for help, lifting them up with one voice.
The following day, Rachel went in for surgery. The doctors said it went well, but that only time would tell. The following day, they said the recovery going better than expected. The next day, they said it was going MUCH better than expected. Not long afterwards, these medical professionals began using a very biblical word: Miracle. The nurses were crying, saying that this type of surgery almost never goes so well. And a short time ago, Rachel gave birth to two beautiful, healthy twin girls. Their names are Zoey and Lilly. And they are a living testament to the restorative power of God.
We’re a Part of the Community
My wife, Tiffany, and I moved to this area from Kentucky, and for a long time we felt like outsiders. But over the past seven years, we have come to feel more and more a part of Eagle Butte, and its people have come to feel like our people. The most recent example of this came last Sunday. Tiffany teaches sixth grade at the public school, and this past weekend some of her students graduated high school for the first time! We felt very proud of these kids as they advanced to this new stage of life, and we are already looking forward to next year, when we can see the next graduation!
Speaking of Graduations…
This Tuesday, Windswept Academy (our local Christian school) hosted its end-of-the-year program and Kindergarten graduation. Hundreds of parents and family members gathered together in the Oglala Lakota College auditorium to see this great exhibition. The students sang songs and performed a piano recital.
The kindergarteners performed “The Three Little Pigs”-a new take on the old fairy tale which allowed them to act out a play while simultaneously reciting Bible verses and showing off their counting skills. Then they all received their diplomas. It was a very sweet end to a very good school year!
Painting!
Since I arrived in Eagle Butte, Our fellowship hall has been a light beige color, with a peach trim. But after discussing it with the church, I decided that it needed a new look. With the help of Bryson Dupris, a local artist and one our church members, I set about painting the fellowship hall white and blue. The two of us worked on it for days, and it took a lot more work than I expected. But it turned out great! It’s like a whole new building!
The Grand Giveaway
Our church enjoys a warm friendship with various churches from around the country. Sometimes, members of these churches contact me, asking if the poor of Eagle Butte have need of clothing. I always tell them the same thing: “If the Lord moves you to give anything, we can get it into the hands of people who need it.” And the Lord does move people to do just that.
Two weeks ago, I used these gifts from across the country to host a giveaway at First Baptist Church. Any of the poor from the community were free to come in and shop, without cost. It was a great success. Hundreds of items were given away, and dozens of people were clothed in the process. I am grateful to our donors, who made this giveaway possible. And I am grateful to the Lord, who allows me to be a conduit for His blessings!
Bittersweet Goodbyes
This past Sunday marked the last time that some of our church members would be among us. William Hall, who until now has been a teacher at Windswept Academy, is moving to Texas with His wife, Richelle, and their four children. There, he will be serving as a youth pastor at a church! Meanwhile, Rebecca Yu (a part-time missionary and full-time pharmacist) is moving from Eagle Butte to work at a pharmacy in Portland. It is rare that a person leaves the church with the intention of working in a missionary capacity, and especially rare that two people should do it on the same day! First Baptist Church was resolved to make the most of this opportunity.
We held a special service in honor of the occasion. I preached on the Great Commission, using it to encourage William, Richelle, Rebecca, and everyone in the congregation to boldly witness for Jesus. I asked all three of them to come to the front of the church, where we laid hands on them and prayed. With one voice, we asked God to bless them and their future work. This is the Body of Christ in action. I’m so proud to be a part of it.
So perhaps you are wondering how you can become a partner with us in our ministry here in Eagle Butte? If so, then we are happy to tell you, since we welcome assistance from the body of Christ. Here is what we need the most:
Prayer. It may be true that our church is getting along very well at the moment, and that God is doing great things here. But it is precisely when a church is being used by God that Satan does all in his power to destroy it. So please pray, my brothers and sisters. Pray that our leadership will keep their hearts pure and humble, and that we will live at peace with each other. Pray that we will be protected from the power of the enemy, and that God’s Holy Spirit will shine through in our lives. Pray that the Lakotas in the community will come to know the Lord, and that the commitment they make will not be a superficial group of words, but a real change in their Spirits that will alter the course of their lives for eternity.
E-mail addresses. For those of you who have e-mail addresses, please send them to me. That way, these monthly newsletters can be forwarded to everyone in your church who wants one! Just send your name and e-mail address to me at benfarrar777@hotmail.com, and I’ll make sure you receive this newsletter as often as it comes out.
Financial Assistance. Our church is fortunate to have members who are generous in their giving. But some of our most generous members are, nevertheless, very poor. We have long been blessed with assistance from outside churches and individuals, and we try to use those gifts wisely and well.
If any one of you wishes to bless the church with a financial gift, you may send it to:
First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte
P.O. Box 170
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Eleven donations were recently made in memory of Catherine Farrar.
May God bless you all, and draw you closer to Himself each and every day.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Ben Farrar
Pastor
First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte
